The noble appearance and great endurance of the amaranth tree allowed him to replenish the list of valuable species. Since the 18th century, it has been used to create exquisite home decoration and works of art. For the characteristic color, he was nicknamed the "purple heart." What does the amaranth tree look like? You will find a photo and description of the plant in our article.
Rod peltogin
The botanical name for amaranth is Peltogyne. It unites a whole genus of trees, which includes about 25 species. All of them come from the countries of South and Central America and are found from Mexico to the south of Brazil. The main place where amaranth trees grow is Amazonia. In its humid and hot tropical rainforests, these plants feel best, but due to active felling, some species have become rare and are on the verge of extinction.
The genus peltogin is represented by both medium and very tall trees. A number of them reach from 30 to 50 meters in height, and in diameter can have up to 1-1.5 meters. Amaranth leaves are usually large, and the flowers, on the contrary, are small and have five petals in the inflorescence. They belong to the legume family, so the fruit with a single seed looks like a pod.
Amaranth color
Shades of violet-red colors are called amaranth in color of this plant. But to see them immediately does not work. While the amaranth tree grows, it has an ordinary light gray color with a brownish core inside. Sapwood - the area immediately beneath the bark - is up to 6 centimeters thick and has a dark brown, almost bronze hue.
As soon as the amaranth is cut off, its core changes and acquires a bright eggplant color. Later, under the influence of ultraviolet light, it darkens. It becomes dark brown with a deep purple tint, for which this breed is appreciated. To reduce the effect of radiation and leave the wood light purple, special impregnations and fixers are used that prevent the penetration of UV rays.
Wood features
Amaranth wood is characterized by high strength and wear resistance. It does not lend itself to decay and tolerates moisture well. Its wood has a fine or medium texture, randomly spaced noticeable pores and faint annual rings. In some species, the rings are visible well.
Peltogine fibers are usually straight, but can form light uneven waves. Its hard and dry wood has a variable gloss and high density (880 kg / m 3 ). It endures the influence of many external factors: it does not lend itself to decay, drying out. Insects and ticks will not start in it, but before such pests as mollusks, wood is powerless.
The smell of amaranth, as a rule, is not noticeable or completely absent. A sharp, pronounced aroma can only boast of individual representatives. The tree is not poisonous and in most cases harmless. But with individual intolerance, an allergy to it can cause irritation of the mucous membranes, rash and nausea.
Processing and application
Amaranth wood is highly regarded among manufacturers of furniture and various details, but working with it has many nuances that must be taken into account when processing. If the tools operate at increased power, the wood begins to heat up and releases sticky and very viscous gum. Because of this feature, the equipment often needs to be cleaned and treated with special solutions, otherwise the resin will quickly send it into disrepair.
At the same time, amaranth sticks together well and can be ground. It can be coated with wax and various varnishes and dyes, but their base should not be alcohol. Funds for alcohol "kill" the whole beauty of this wood, depriving it of a unique purple-burgundy shade.
One of the distinctive properties of amaranth wood is its ability to withstand high stress and strong dynamic loads. Due to this, it is used for the manufacture of floor coverings, decks, as well as sports equipment, for example, apparatus for gymnastics, skiing, cues, boards for ski jumps.
The unusual color of the tree is popular in decor, so amaranth is widely used for inlaying carvings, creating figurines and other art objects. Panels for wall cladding, carved inserts for sofas, bar counters, tables, chairs, cabinets, headboards and other interior items are made from it.